The East Devon Trail is a brand new 185km (115-mile) bikepacking route that’s just been unveiled in the south west of England, taking in the county’s capital of Exeter and neighboring Dorset and Somerset. It features the best that Devon has to offer, taking in a mixture of freshwater marshes, lowland heath, green agricultural field networks, steep cliffs, pebbled beaches and ancient woodlands.
If you've been looking for an excuse to load up your bike with the best bikepacking bags and head out on an adventure, then this might be next on your list.
It was devised by Devon local Katherine Moore — a cycling writer with a zoology degree and background in agriculture — and in partnership with local stakeholders, including Devon Wildlife Trust (opens in new tab), Wild East Devon (opens in new tab), the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust (opens in new tab), the RSPB (opens in new tab) (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and East Devon AONB (opens in new tab) (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
The East Devon Trail traverses a multitude of nature reserves, and aims to showcase the county’s wildlife and the plentiful support provided by local organizations; think rare lowland heath, migratory bird service stations, species reintroduction programs, and the many gravel tracks and accompanying views that surround them.
Unlike some trails, the East Devon Trail is not designed with speed or FKTs (fastest known times) in mind, and it instead sets out to provide a different type of bikepacking experience. This route is about slowing down and enjoying the views, discovering local flora and fauna, and experiencing quiet life in the countryside. The route travels through quaint thatched villages, tearooms offering cream teas, fish and chips on the beach, and farm shops selling local produce.
In order to be as accessible as possible, the East Devon Trail starts and finishes at Exeter railway station, and can be linked up with other established bikepacking routes like the Wessex Ridgeway (opens in new tab) and the Old Chalk Way (opens in new tab).
The creators of the trail ask that riders who enjoy it for free, consider donating to the local FORCE Cancer Charity (opens in new tab) to help fund their vital work. In addition to local stakeholder partnerships, Komoot (opens in new tab) and Outdoor Provisions (opens in new tab) provided generous support to the project. You can find more information on the East Devon Trail website (opens in new tab), follow on Instagram (opens in new tab), and access the Komoot collection (opens in new tab) for the route gpx files.
